Paul's faithfulness carries on today

October 10, 2004 -- 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Fr. Richard Ver Bust

	Fr. Richard Ver Bust

The author portrays Timothy as Paul's son and does so in virtue of the faith that Paul passed on to Timothy. The Pastoral Letters are called that because the author used the title of pastor for roles of Timothy and Titus in their church community.

They are also Pastoral Letters in that they give advice on how these leaders should shepherd their churches.

We have also noticed how the author is strongly influenced by a sense of faith tradition. The roots of these churches are in the faith that Paul passed on to them. In turn the author expects the churches to continue that tradition and pass the faith on to future generations.

The second chapter of this Second Letter to Timothy begins with Paul calling Timothy "my son." The author has Paul emphasize the need "to be strong in the grace which is ours in Christ Jesus."

They share that gift and it creates the fellowship between them. He then stresses the need to pass on that which he had received from Paul.

Thus the passage is filled with a concern to safeguard this message of faith and to transmit it to people he calls trustworthy.

The author then uses examples to illustrate qualities that should be imitated. The examples are ones which are common to other literature and which the author saw as useful to make his point.

The soldier must do his duty and not be involved in other activity. The athlete must prepare well and follow the rules. The farmer must work hard to produce the crop he raises and then deserves the fruit of the labor.

Thus the Christian must endure hardships even as Paul has and live up to his commitment to Christ.

That is where we take up today's second reading. This context helps us appreciate the full meaning of the passage. Paul recalls in a credal statement the message he preached. He reminds Timothy of the core belief - the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The words he uses are probably drawn from the opening verses of the Letter to the Romans (1:1-4). They recall that Paul suffered imprisonment for preaching this message. Playing upon the words he says these chains did not hinder the power of the word of God.

The author uses a hymn verse probably well known to the church community to illustrate the special relationship one has with Christ through baptism. It emphasizes that the Christian united with Christ dies with him but also is raised with him.

Baptism makes this unity possible. Yet the contrary is also true. Denial of Christ means unfaithfulness. This leads to Christ disowning us. Yet Christ will, as God does, reach out to us and call us back if we are willing.

These verses remind us that when we pray the Creed in our liturgy, we stand in company with Christians since the time of Paul. We are part of the tradition keeping the message ever new and fresh yet rooted in faithfulness.

(The late Fr. Ver Bust directed the master's program in theology at St. Norbert College, De Pere.)